Elkhart mayor to make pitch to Washington

Mayor to go to D.C., seeks $92.4 million for projects.

Mayor to go to D.C., seeks $92.4 million for projects.

January 14, 2009|By TOM MOOR Tribune Staff Writer

ELKHART -- Elkhart Mayor Dick Moore is going to Washington, D.C., to meet with congressional leaders later this month, and he's making an unusual pitch to them. He's selling his city as the center of the economic meltdown in this country. Why? Because that once dubious title could now bring the city millions of dollars, he believes. Looking to breathe fresh life into a struggling city, Moore is hoping to convince leaders to award Elkhart a heavy chunk of President-elect Barack Obama's proposed economic recovery plan money -- $92.4 million to be exact. "Why shouldn't we be on the top of the list?" the mayor said at a Tuesday afternoon news conference. "ABC says we are. CBS says we are. I don't think anyone has more of a demand than we do." Moore said the city has 18 infrastructure projects that can be started in the next four to six months, which would meet the requirements of Obama's package. The projects would cost $92.4 million and are expected to create a 2,310 jobs, which would be good news to a county that has a 12 percent unemployment rate, Moore said. The projects range in cost from about $300,000 for the Elkhart Airport taxiway rehab to $34 million for the Prairie Street Overpass. The mayor is planning to meet with U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly and Indiana Sens. Evan Bayh and Richard Lugar soon to discuss the needs of the city. The mayor and three members of his administration will go to Washington on Jan. 22 to meet with congressional leaders. Moore said the proposed money in Obama's plan will likely go to the state or county, but he's proposing the money go directly to cities that need it. "That would just delay the process," Moore said of it going to the state first. The mayor described the projects as "ready to put the shovel into the ground and put people to work," which would make Elkhart a good choice, he said. Moore said he took offense at his city making national news during the past year in such a bad light, but is now looking to benefit from it. "We did not like it being put across the U.S. as an economic distressed area in the country," he said. "So we need to be put on top of the list. It needs to go back to the economy. "This will put us to work, allow us to make house payments and eat at restaurants." Staff writer Tom Moor: tmoor@sbtinfo.com (574) 247-7756